Abandoned
That word brings up all kinds of emotions. At its root is the idea of ceasing to care any longer. Sheep can abandon their lambs. They are called “bummers.” Monika cared for a “bummer” soy sheep. It was so cute but oh so sick. It never received any of its mother’s colostrum. She saved that “bummer”, but it took weeks of constant care, and extra love. They developed this deep and special connection.
In the country where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer there was this orphanage that took in abandoned babies. The mother passed and there was no one who could care for the baby any longer, so they were just dropped off there. There were more babies than workers, so some babies were not picked up and held. They were just fed. Sad to say, those babies died, not from lack of food but from lack of love and nurturing.
Feeling abandoned makes it difficult to trust. Being abandoned once is awful, being abandoned twice is unthinkable. It is easy to say that forgiveness is what is needed but that is where healing begins.
I know of someone whom we can trust. Someone who will never abandon us or reject us. Someone we can reach out to when we feel anxious or worried. Someone who is available in the middle of the night when everyone else is sleeping. Someone who knows what it feels like to be abandoned themselves, by their own father. That Someone is Jesus. He will never abandon us. He is totally trustworthy.
God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 ESV
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